Laava

The laava (singular laav) are the four hymns of the Anand Karaj (Sikh wedding ceremony) which form the main part of this ceremony. The four hymns are from the Guru Granth Sahib, the Sikh holy scriptures and appear on pages 773 to 774 of the total of 1430.

Guru Ram Das says on page 788 of the Sri Guru Granth Sahib of the meaning of marriage to a Sikh couple: "They are not said to be husband and wife who merely sit together. Rather they alone are called husband and wife, who have one soul in two bodies." The four laava give the Sikh couple spiritual guidance for their life ahead. The Guru tells of the four stages of married life and the how the couple as a team have to first begin by following the path of righteousness and sinless-ness. Secondly to only have fear of the Lord and remove the ego within the souls; then to remember and sing the Lords name with the holy congregation. Finally, the couple will find divine peace; will accept the Will of the Lord and find unending happiness in the Lord.

The Four Rounds

The main part of the Anand Karaj (Sikh Marriage Ceremony) is the reading and then the singing of each laav in turn. When the Laav is sung, the couple as a pair joint by a piece of cloth circle the SGGS. This has relevance to the occasion and should not be considered a ritual without meaning. When the couple circle the SGGS each time they are making a commitment to God with the Guru as their spiritual witness and support. And as one circles the Sri Guru Granth Sahib you are reminded that the Guru should be the center of your life, from which springs your spiritual leadership and understanding that you require for your soul's long journey across this 'world ocean'. The Sri Guru Granth Sahib is the spiritual center and the Sadh Sangat is your worldly (temporal) witness and support.

The four nuptial rounds were written by Guru Ram Das for his own wedding. They explain the journey of the souls toward the Almighty. In them he tells us of the duties that a person undertaking a life of marriage should perform. In the first round, the Guru asks the partners to:

Summary

Summary First Round

• commit to righteousness.
• renounce sinful actions.
• Remember, mediate and embrace Naam.
• Only by good fortune, is real peace obtained and Lord seems sweet to the mind.
• Worship the one Waheguru and all your sins will vanish.

Summary Second Round

In the second round, the Guru asks the partners to advance further towards meeting the True Guru - God:

• The Lord leads you to meet the True Guru, the Primal Being - the enlightener
• have fear of fearless God and your ego will disappear
• Sing God's praises and feel His presence before you.
• God is everywhere, outside and within, sing in Joy

Summary Third Round

In the third round, the Guru says that the partners mind is filled with "Divine Love":

• meeting the Sadh Sangat (Holy Congregation)
• speak the Word of the Lord's Bani.
• which is only obtained by good fortune
• Recite Gurbani and sing the Glorious Praises of the Lord
• The Naam will vibrates and resounds within your heart
• and you will know your future destiny.

Summary Fourth Round

In the final round, the Guru says that the partners mind become peaceful and they will have found the Lord:

• God's Will seems sweet to these Gurmukhs.
• You will lovingly focus your consciousness on the Lord, day and night
• All your desires will be fulfilled
• The Souls will blend with Waheguru and only Naam will occupy your heart.

The Laava

First Laav

Second Laav

Third Laav

Fourth and Final Laav

Other Wedding Shabads

This Shabad is by Guru Nanak Dev Ji in Siree Raag: Keethaa lorreeai kam so har pehi aakheeai

ਪਉੜੀ ॥ ਕੀਤਾ ਲੋੜੀਝ ਕੰਮ੝ ਸ੝ ਹਰਿ ਪਹਿ ਆਖੀਝ ॥ ਕਾਰਜ੝ ਦੇਇ ਸਵਾਰਿ ਸਤਿਗ੝ਰ ਸਚ੝ ਸਾਖੀਝ ॥ ਸੰਤਾ ਸੰਗਿ ਨਿਧਾਨ੝ ਅੰਮ੝ਰਿਤ੝ ਚਾਖੀਝ ॥ ਭੈ ਭੰਜਨ ਮਿਹਰਵਾਨ ਦਾਸ ਕੀ ਰਾਖੀਝ ॥ ਨਾਨਕ ਹਰਿ ਗ੝ਣ ਗਾਇ ਅਲਖ੝ ਪ੝ਰਭ੝ ਲਾਖੀਝ ॥20॥

pourree ॥ keethaa lorreeai ka(n)m s har pehi aakheeai ॥ kaaraj dhaee savaar sathigur sach saakheeai ॥ sa(n)thaa sa(n)g nidhhaan a(n)mrith chaakheeai ॥ bhai bha(n)jan miharavaan dhaas kee raakheeai ॥ naanak har gun gaae alakh prabh laakheeai ॥20॥

Pauree: Whatever work you wish to accomplish-tell it to the Lord. He will resolve your affairs; the True Guru gives His Guarantee of Truth. In the Society of the Saints, you shall taste the treasure of the Ambrosial Nectar. The Lord is the Merciful Destroyer of fear; He preserves and protects His slaves. O Nanak, sing the Glorious Praises of the Lord, and see the Unseen Lord God. ((20))

-SGGS page 91

This Shabad is by Guru Arjan Dev Ji in Raag Raamkalee: palai thaiddai laagee

ਸਲੋਕ ਮਃ 5 ॥ ਉਸਤਤਿ ਨਿੰਦਾ ਨਾਨਕ ਜੀ ਮੈ ਹਭ ਵਞਾਈ ਛੋੜਿਆ ਹਭ੝ ਕਿਝ੝ ਤਿਆਗੀ ॥ ਹਭੇ ਸਾਕ ਕੂੜਾਵੇ ਡਿਠੇ ਤਉ ਪਲੈ ਤੈਡੈ ਲਾਗੀ ॥1॥

salok ma 5॥ ousathath ni(n)dhaa naanak jee mai habh van(j)aaee shhorriaa habh kijh thiaagee॥ habhae saak koorraavae ddit(h)ae tho palai thaiddai laagee ॥1॥

Salok, Fifth Mehla: I have totally discarded praise and slander, O Nanak; I have forsaken and abandoned everything. I have seen that all relationships are false, and so I have grasped hold of the hem of Your robe, Lord. ((1))

-SGGS page 963

This Shabad is by Guru Raam Daas Ji in Siree Raag: Veeaahu hoaa maerae baabulaa

ਵੀਆਹ੝ ਹੋਆ ਮੇਰੇ ਬਾਬ੝ਲਾ ਗ੝ਰਮ੝ਖੇ ਹਰਿ ਪਾਇਆ ॥ ਅਗਿਆਨ੝ ਅੰਧੇਰਾ ਕਟਿਆ ਗ੝ਰ ਗਿਆਨ੝ ਪ੝ਰਚੰਡ੝ ਬਲਾਇਆ ॥ ਬਲਿਆ ਗ੝ਰ ਗਿਆਨ੝ ਅੰਧੇਰਾ ਬਿਨਸਿਆ ਹਰਿ ਰਤਨ੝ ਪਦਾਰਥ੝ ਲਾਧਾ ॥ ਹਉਮੈ ਰੋਗ੝ ਗਇਆ ਦ੝ਖ੝ ਲਾਥਾ ਆਪ੝ ਆਪੈ ਗ੝ਰਮਤਿ ਖਾਧਾ ॥ ਅਕਾਲ ਮੂਰਤਿ ਵਰ੝ ਪਾਇਆ ਅਬਿਨਾਸੀ ਨਾ ਕਦੇ ਮਰੈ ਨ ਜਾਇਆ ॥ ਵੀਆਹ੝ ਹੋਆ ਮੇਰੇ ਬਾਬੋਲਾ ਗ੝ਰਮ੝ਖੇ ਹਰਿ ਪਾਇਆ ॥2॥

veeaahu hoaa maerae baabulaa guramukhae har paaeiaa ॥ agiaan a(n)dhhaeraa kattiaa gur giaan pracha(n)dd balaaeiaa ॥ baliaa gur giaan a(n)dhhaeraa binasiaa har rathan padhaarathh laadhhaa ॥ houmai rog gaeiaa dhukh laathhaa aap aapai guramath khaadhhaa ॥ akaal moorath var paaeiaa abinaasee naa kadhae marai n jaaeiaa ॥ veeaahu hoaa maerae baabolaa guramukhae har paaeiaa ॥2॥

My marriage has been performed, O my father. As Gurmukh, I have found the Lord. The darkness of ignorance has been dispelled. The Guru has revealed the blazing light of spiritual wisdom. This spiritual wisdom given by the Guru shines forth, and the darkness has been dispelled. I have found the Priceless Jewel of the Lord. The sickness of my ego has been dispelled, and my pain is over and done. Through the Guru's Teachings, my identity has consumed my identical identity. I have obtained my Husband Lord, the Akaal Moorat, the Undying Form. He is Imperishable; He shall never die, and He shall never ever leave. My marriage has been performed, O my father. As Gurmukh, I have found the Lord. ((2))

-SGGS page 78

see also Anand Karaj, Attending a Sikh Wedding

External link

• Anand Kaaraj

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